The message yesterday in WEB was to keep positive thoughts and messages in your head as we approach the change in season and try to get through until winter break.  I hope by planting these thoughts in the students and staff it will make the next few weeks easier.   I believe in positive reaps positive.  

The first quarter is over and the second is getting close to be half over.  Time this year seems so busy and quick.  We are working hard in the LC to make the space neater and less cluttered.  We are working on making the space more comfortable and user-friendly.  We are going to start working on weeding books and materials to make room for the new materials we need.  I appreciate the help of the Techsperts to make this happen.  A few adults have also been donating time to make the space better. 

Today, Mr. Findlay brought his class in to use the VR Goggles.  I really appreciate the effort our teachers give towards using the materials that I purchase to enhance the curriculum.  The VR Goggles are super cool for the kids as it makes them feel like they are in the environment the teacher wants to create....today it was space.  

As we approach Thanksgiving Break, I want to tell all that I am thankful for the staff that I work for and with.  I am thankful that they keep an open  mind and are willing to try new things.  I am thankful for the students who are also open to trying new things plus for the most part are here to focus on the learning.  They are willing to give me ideas on how to improve the learning environment in the LC.  I want to make it a place that is conducive to collaboration, communication and learning.  I am thankful for the parents who support the learning process.  Without them, it would be a much more difficult job!  I am thankful for my family as well who support my job!  So, thank you everyone and I hope you enjoy your break!

It is scary how fast this year is going.  It is scary that it has snowed before Halloween.  I am not sure which scares me more.  Please everyone be safe out tonight and come back to school tomorrow ready to learn.

Hard to believe we are already a couple of weeks into the second quarter.  Time just seems to be flying by.  The Techsperts are busy working on the upcoming book fair which is about a month away.  It will run from December 2 to December 13.  We will have family night on December 10 from 4 to 6:30 PM.  Hope to see the public come out and support our book fair.  The theme of our fair is AND THE WINNER IS....  The Techsperts are getting ready to decorate for the event. 

Our overall theme for this year is encouraging reading.  We have book recommendations and displays in the LC that work towards this theme.  I have a Google Classroom where I communicate with the students plus I put things out on Twitter, Instagram and on this website.  The classes come in every couple weeks to check out books.  Students also have access to eBooks that they can read on their iPads.  I love it when a student comes in asks for a recommendation. 

I will say Happy Halloween for today and before I know it I will be saying Happy Thanksgiving! 

The first quarter has come to an end and we are starting the second quarter.  We are starting Boost Tutoring for reading and math.  Tuesdays is for math and Thursday is for reading.  We have teachers ready to help our students.  We will be offering this program until April 7th.  

Techsperts have completed reading encouragement bulletin boards.  Our big focus this year to encourage our patrons to read our books.  The Techsperts are completing book recommendations.  These are being posted on our Google Classroom and on our blog.  esmstigersblog.blogspot.com is where you will find our blogs and book recommendations.  

Next week is Parent Showxase.  I am looking forward to seeing parents and being able to brag about our students and our space.  Wednesday from 4-7 and Thursday from 1-7 you can come to the Middle School and visit me in the Learning Commons.  See you there!

I am introducing new things for the Techsperts to try.  This past week I introduced Powtoons.  Some of them have used it in Computers class but others have not and it is taking them out of their comfort zone.  I believe this is the way I am going to proceed from here on out.  I want them to be willing to try new things which should then spread to others in the school.  As other students see them presenting with different formats, they too will want to try out the new items.  Teachers will sometimes ask me to have the Techsperts try something, but I think I need to also be asking on a regular basis.  This will keep me on my toes as well because I will need to find new formats and ideas to have them try.  

The summer flew by but I am so excited to get started this year.  I received an honor at the back to school teacher meeting for my 25 years of service.  My biggest hope that in all my years I have left "footprints" .  I was also recognized for being the teacher of the quarter from last year.  As I got my award at the board meeting, one of my former students was also receiving that award for her building.  That makes me proud.  As I looked around the room yesterday at our back to school meeting, I noticed that several students were back teaching in this district.  ESSD is a great place to be as a teacher and a student!

I am excited about the new administration.  Ben Rubey is our Principal with Kacie Pennington Ambrose and Doug Baker as Assistant Principals.  Mr. Mason returned as counselor but we have added Kelsey Shook as a counselor.  Our staff basically remained the same with 3 new teachers added to include Heather Taylor in sixth grade, Joel Mathews in seventh grade social studies, and Courtney Mayle in eighth grade.  #esmsbestyearever

I am super excited for Techsperts and WEB.  These are two programs I am proud to be a part of!!!  The kids work hard and support our school.  Look for announcements and information about both throughout the year!

Okay TIGERS....Let's get this started in here!  See you in the morning!
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Our final book fair is over for the year.  We raised three hundred dollars for All For Books, so reality we got to buy six hundred dollars in books to donate to our classroom teachers libraries.  We were three hundred dollars short of making a goal of getting extra Scholastic Dollars.  The purpose of this book fair was to give back to the patrons of ESMS Learning Commons.  It was a buy a book get a book free.  I love it when the customers stock up on reading materials for the summer. 

MAP testing begins tomorrow for most of our students here at ESMS.  It is an exciting yet frightening time for all.  Students are ready to show what they have learned but yet anxious to see if it worthy of a high score.  I always tell them that if they are trying their best, it will all work out.  We will be testing over the next two weeks.  The schedule will be testing from first hour until about 10.  We will have shortened class following that. 

Next year's WEB Leaders and Techsperts have been chosen and placed in classes.  It is not an easy task selecting these as we have so many good role models and I have to disappoint students because we can only have a certain number of each. 

As this year winds down and we start to prepare for next year, I reflect on a great year.  The students have used the space to enhance learning and we are still making changes to make the space even better.  Please have a great summer and remember we will not be having summer school this year!

I was working on upcoming events and year end events yesterday.  I keep thinking we have a lot of time left but we really do not.  June 5th will be here before we know it. 

Book Fair is coming up!  It will start on April 22 and will end on April 26.  It is a buy one get one free event.  We are going to use all of our All for Books money this fair to buy our classroom teachers new books for their libraries.  We have run a couple of raffles to raise money and we are running one more. It will start on April 15 and run until the last day of the fair which is the 26th.  Tickets are fifty cents each or three for a dollar.  Thanks to those that have donated prizes!

WEB has about 5 more meetings.  That is hard to believe!  The leaders for next year have been selected and starting to get excited about all the possibilities that will hold for the incoming sixth graders.  The current leaders will be working on activities to finish out the year strong!

We just finished our visit from the fifth graders!  That was a good day for some leadership from our seventh and eighth graders.  They gave tours and answered questions from next year's sixth graders.  The day went well and the leaders felt good about their contributions. 

Our last day of school is June 5th.  MAP testing will be the first part of May.  The students just completed the last round of NWEA testing which gives them an idea of how they will do.  Most of our students showed signs of improvement which is very exciting! I know our scores will improve this year on the MAP test!

Techsperts are working hard to write blogs to keep our school and community updated on events going on in our building.  They are working on spring decorations for the commons and positive quotes to post during testing!  They also have a leave your mark project they are working on!  So many exciting things for them!

As the year winds down, keeping a positive attitude is key!  Look for good things happening here and please stop by the LC and share those with me!

Today is the last day of third quarter.  Hard to believe that we have finally made it. It has been a hard winter with lots of snow and days off.  It has been hard to get in a rhythm but hopefully that is behind us and we will persevere to June 5 which is now our last day of school.   First we get to take our week off for spring break.

Everyone enjoy your time off and we will see you back here on March 25!